Deer - Education • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission https://www.agfc.com/category/education/species/deer/ Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:09:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6 Check your deer online this deer hunting season https://www.agfc.com/news/check-your-deer-online-this-deer-hunting-season/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:37:16 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=11962 The post Check your deer online this deer hunting season appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

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LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission expects more than 33,000 deer to be harvested and checked this Saturday and Sunday during opening weekend of Arkansas’s modern gun deer season if the harvest is consistent with recent years. Although extra staff are being contracted to handle a large volume of calls expected to come in, hunters can still avoid any time on “hold” by checking their deer through AGFC’s new smartphone app.

The new app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple Store, but hunters who have used the AGFC app before this year should delete all older versions to get the new one. Once downloaded, they will need to create a new account and sign in to the system. If a hunter has a valid hunting license that allows harvest of big game, the associated electronic game tags will appear in their account. From there you can follow these simple steps to check your deer. 

  1. Click on the Licenses and Game Check button to see your list of valid licenses and tags.
  2. Click on the tag you wish to use to check your big game (all tags that are still valid to be used will have an indicator arrow informing you that you can check game with it).
  3. Select the date of harvest and complete the short survey about the details of your harvested game. Include county, WMA/Zone, weapon used and other biological information on the harvested animal.
  4. Carefully review your game check report. Once submitted it cannot be changed. 
  5. To submit, press Next, then Save.

If your phone has service, you will receive a confirmation number immediately. You will also receive an email and a message in your app inbox confirming your harvest.

If you are not connected to internet or cell service, you’ll receive a notice on your screen that your submission is pending upon validation. When your device returns to service or internet connection, you should sync your app by selecting this button. Once synced you will receive your confirmation on the app screen, via email and in the app inbox.

All deer harvested in Arkansas must be checked within 12 hours of harvest. Before they are moved, they must have a physical tag attached to the antler (for bucks) or leg (for does) that indicates the hunter’s name, customer ID number, date and time of harvest and the deer zone or WMA where it was taken. If a deer is checked at the point of harvest, it does not have to be tagged as long as it stays within the immediate presence of the hunter who checked it. 

Visit https://www.agfc.com/hunting/deer for more information on deer hunting in Arkansas. 

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WMA Deer Hunt Permits

TOPIC
Deer Education
CATEGORY
Deer
Hunters
Permits

2024-25 WMA Deer Hunt Permits Applications are closed.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) offer some of the best public hunting opportunity in the United States. To prevent overcrowding on popular WMAs, the AGFC limits some hunting opportunities through a permit draw system. Lowering hunter numbers not only regulates harvest, it offers a better hunting experience for the hunters who draw the tags.

Leftover 2024-25 WMA Deer Hunt Permits
2023-24 Deer Permit Draw Odds

*If a permit is not listed, then it is a new permit for the 2024-25 deer season, therefore no draw odds exist for that hunt.

2024-25 WMA Deer Hunt Permit Schedule

June 1

Application period begins at 8 a.m.

Click Here To View The Original List of Deer Permits

July 1

Application deadline at 11:59 p.m.

July 15

Applications for leftover deer permits open at 9 a.m.

Click Here To View Available Leftover Deer Permits

Applying for a WMA Deer Hunt Permit

  • Applications must be submitted online by the application deadline to be eligible.
  • Each person may submit one application for each type of permit hunt (youth deer, archery deer, alternative firearms deer, modern gun deer).
  • Youth hunters must be at least 6 years old, but no older than 15, the day the hunt begins.
  • Youth-only hunt applicants must create a profile to receive a Customer ID number (CID), which is required to check a deer this season.
  • Permit winners will be notified by e-mail (an e-mail address must be included with each application).
  • Applications require a nonrefundable $5 application fee per hunt type. Successful applicants no longer have to pay for permits after the drawing.
  • For assistance with permit application, call 833-345-0325.

Applying for WMA Deer Hunt Permits as a Group

  • Up to four members of a hunting party may apply together as a group for alternative firearms and modern gun permit hunts.
  • Applicants may only be in one hunt party per hunt type (alternative firearms and modern gun).
  • The group leader must complete their application before any other party members begin. The leader must fill out his or her application as though he or she were applying alone. Once he or she has completed their application and paid the normal $5 processing fee, the group leader can print their license with the permit application on it. The permit application has a unique “Party Number” the group leader will share with up to three other individuals.
  • Individuals entering a group application will need to click on the brown box that says “Join Controlled Hunt Group.” It will then prompt to he or she to enter the group leader’s last name as well as the group ID also known as the “Party Number.” They will then confirm the information and join the party.
  • When applications are drawn, all applicants in each group will either be successful or unsuccessful.

National Wildlife Refuge Hunt Permits

The AGFC does not administer permit hunts for national wildlife refuges in Arkansas. For information regarding those permit hunts, please visit their websites or call the following locations:

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Urban Archery Hunts

TOPIC
Deer Education
CATEGORY
Deer
Hunters
Permits

The AGFC works with cities experiencing issues with wildlife damage from deer to create special hunting seasons to reducing herd numbers. The Arkansas Bowhunters Association, Bull Shoals Bowhunters Association, Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association and Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry work with the AGFC to manage these hunting opportunities and ensure safe, ethical hunts with special consideration for non-hunting Arkansans.

All participants of urban bowhunts must successfully complete the International Bowhunter Education Program. Arkansas recognizes bowhunter education taken in other states to meet this requirement.

Learn more on the Bowhunter Education page.

Visit the Arkansas Bowhunters Association at www.arkansasbowhunters.org/2024urbanhunt or contact Dwayne Spangler at 870-373-8098 or email Dwayne@arkansasbowhunters.org to get details about and register for the 2024-25 urban archery deer hunt in the following cities:

  • Cherokee Village
  • Fairfield Bay
  • Heber Springs
  • Helena-West Helena
  • Horseshoe Bend
  • Russellville

Hunters wishing to participate in the Bull Shoals or Lakeview hunts should contact Joseph Gentry at 870-733-4343 or email Joey.Gentry34@yahoo.com with the Bull Shoals Urban Bowhunters Association.

Hunters wishing to participate in the Hot Springs Village hunt should contact David Harper at 501-356-5880 or email dharper@hsvpoa.org with the Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association.

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Home  /  Education  /  Species  /  Deer

Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP)

TOPIC
Private Lands Habitat Division
CATEGORY
Deer
Landowners
Programs
Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP)

If you’re interested in the Deer Management Assistance Program, check out the newly opened Conservation Incentive Program.

Nearly 90 percent of Arkansas is privately owned. People who hunt and maintain these properties have a large influence on the state’s deer quality and quantity. Every time a hunter pulls a trigger or releases a bowstring, they are making a management decision.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) assists landowners and hunting clubs with the management of their local deer herds. Participants collect and submit biological data from the deer harvested on their property. In return, participants are provided with a customized, property-specific report with future harvest recommendations based on the club’s management goals.

Participants in DMAP learn:

  • The importance of balanced sex ratios and age structure
  • Disease monitoring, prevention, and abatement
  • Quality deer management principles
  • The importance of quality habitat and proper herd management for improved herd quality

Participants may also request a free habitat site visit and habitat management plan. Through this plan, AGFC biologists can provide additional recommendations for improving deer and other wildlife populations. Biologists may also be able to identify possible financial assistance to help manage the property.

What are the benefits of DMAP?

  • Increased hunting opportunity
  • Increased management flexibility
  • Improved hunt quality
  • Healthier, higher quality deer populations
  • Potentially more improved/better wildlife habitats
  • More localized management based on harvest, observation, and biological data

DMAP’s primary goals are to:

  • Provide deer management technical assistance to participants based on their specific management goals utilizing quality deer management principles
  • Educate participants on basic white-tailed deer biology and management strategies in order to achieve desired management goals by providing them with site-specific harvest reports, harvest recommendations, and management plans
  • Educate participants on habitat management practices focused on improving the quality of local deer herds
  • Educate participants on practices aimed at increasing disease awareness and prevention
  • Provide technical assistance to cities, municipalities, public works, and commercial farming operations in order to address and reduce deer-human conflicts and/or public safety issues
  • Assist other conservation agencies with the abiliity to provide specialized deer removal tools/opportunities
  • Provide robust biological and hunter observation data sets that will be used for the development and tracking of biological population indices with the AGFC’s White-tailed Deer Strategic Management Plan

Participation in DMAP

Participation in DMAP is voluntary and free. Participation does not affect land-access policies. There are four levels of DMAP programming:

Level 1A | Population Management | Application for Enrollment
Assists landowners experiencing deer-related property damage; cities and/or public services experiencing deer-human conflicts or deer-related safety issues; and/or to provide partnering government conservation agencies with a management tool to address deer populations within sensitive areas.

  • An annual site visit by the DMAP biologist is required.
  • Participants are required to record general harvest data (i.e. deer number, hunter name, date of harvest, confirmation number, sex, tag type used, deer zone, and county) on a data ledger.
  • Participants must submit all deer harvested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) sampling purposes.
  • Level 1A participants are not required to collect biological or hunter observation data but it is strongly encouraged.

Level 1 | Basic Deer Management | Application for Enrollment
Maintains the herd at a healthy, sustainable level (at or below carrying capacity). This level provides maximum harvest opportunity with harvest of bucks and does alike.

  • Site visits will be conducted by the DMAP biologist at the request of the club.
  • Participants are required to record general harvest and biological data from all deer harvested.
  • Participants are not required to record hunter observation data or submit CWD samples but are strongly encouraged.

Level 2 | Quality Deer Management | Application for Enrollment
Focuses on quality deer management principles that provide a moderate level of buck harvest with a relatively higher harvest of does to encourage mature bucks.

  • Buck harvest will peak in the 3.5 age class.
  • Site visits will be conducted by the DMAP biologist at the request of the club.
  • Participants are required to record general harvest and biological data from all deer harvested.
  • Participants are not required to record hunter observation data or submit CWD samples but are strongly encouraged.

Level 3 | Intensive Deer Management | Application for Enrollment
Provides a high harvest of does with very selective harvest of bucks in order to allow bucks to reach older age classes and reach full antler potential.

  • Buck harvest will peak in the 4.5 – 5.5 age class.
  • Site visits will be conducted by the DMAP biologist at the request of the club.
  • Participants are required to record general harvest and biological data from all deer harvested.
  • Participants are not required to record hunter observation data or submit CWD samples but are strongly encouraged.

Participation Timeline

September 15
Clubs receive DMAP packets containing DMAP tags, harvest reports and recommendations, management plans, data ledgers, jawbone tags, etc.

March 15
Deadline to have all data and jawbones submitted to your DMAP biologist.

Enrollment is easy; however, certain rules do apply. Landowners and hunting clubs with less than 500 acres are encouraged to join with neighboring landowners to meet the minimum acreage requirement and to increase the success of achieving deer management goals.

Please submit a completed DMAP Enrollment Application to the regional AGFC office or a Private Lands Biologist nearest you. The July 1 deadline has been extended this year.

Hunting clubs participating in DMAP levels 1, 2 or 3 are required to collect biological data (jawbones, weight, lactation, antler measurements, etc.) throughout the deer season on all deer that are harvested by the club. While DMAP Level 1-A clubs are not required to collect these data, it is highly encouraged. Each club will be trained on the proper method of collecting such data, and all data collected must be submitted to the DMAP biologist by March 15 each year.

Hunting clubs participating in DMAP Level 1-A are required to record general harvest data (i.e. deer number, hunter name, confirmation #, date of harvest, sex, type of tag used, deer zone, and county) on a data ledger and return it to the DMAP biologist by March 15 each year. Also, the collection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) samples are required for DMAP Level 1-A clubs. Level 1-A participants will coordinate with their respective DMAP biologist to arrange sample/tissue submission. While DMAP levels 1, 2 and 3 are not required to submit deer heads for CWD testing, it is highly encouraged.

Learn about CWD testing options closest to where you hunt. Remember to keep in mind carcass movement restrictions when planning your hunt and testing.

2024 DMAP County Contact Map

2024 DMAP County Contact Map Legend

1 Game and Fish Road
Calico Rock, AR 72519
479-719-1554
Christopher.Wyatt@agfc.ar.gov

8401 Massard Road
Fort Smith, AR 72916
479-280-2224
Joshua.Melton@agfc.ar.govcentralrivervalleypba@gmail.com

8401 Massard Road
Fort Smith, AR 72916
479-670-0730
eric@deerassociation.com

7004 Hwy 67 East
Perrytown, AR 71801
870-331-1297
Ricky.Chastain@agfc.ar.gov

1 Game and Fish Road
Calico Rock, AR 72519
870-291-5846
clayton@deerassociation.com

2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-902-8579
raul@deerassociation.com

1400 Black Dog Road
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
501-251-7839
Jason.Hooks@agfc.ar.gov

500 Ben Lane
Camden, AR 71701
870-807-5174
Ben.Field@agfc.ar.gov

600-B East Lawson Road
Jonesboro, AR 72404
479-276-5485
colton@deerassociation.com

1201 Hwy 49 North
Brinkley, AR 72021
501-414-5754
christin@deerassociation.com

771 Jordan Drive
Monticello, AR 71655
870-877-1869
Clayton.Whitaker@agfc.ar.gov

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Nuisance Wildlife

TOPIC
Nuisance Wildlife
CATEGORY
Bear
Deer
Feral Hog
Wildlife Rehabilitation

Nuisance Wildlife Resources

An expanded partnership between the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services Program will provide a streamlined response to public reports of the occasional wild animal that poses a threat to people, livestock and property. A new nuisance wildlife hotline, 833-345-0315, is available 24 hours a day to provide guidance and assistance.

 

For added support in managing those animals that may be troublesome, we have created a list of publications and websites that may provide information for your particular problem.

I Want to Hire Someone to Solve My Nuisance Wildlife Problems

Publications

Websites

How to Control Specific Nuisance Wildlife Problems

General Nuisance Wildlife Resources

Publications

Websites

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Project WILD

TOPIC
In the Classroom
CATEGORY
Anglers
Bear
Deer
Hunters

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Project WILD is an education program rooted in nature that helps educators bring the outdoors to their students. Workshops, offered at no charge, matching state and national teaching standards offer valuable education and lesson plans about the natural world. Materials are available for teachers of any age group, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Workshop participants learn about the natural world through hands-on experience they can pass on to their students. Our classroom is the outdoors, and the experience is closer to a day at summer camp than a training seminar.

Teachers of all subjects are encouraged to participate. Workshops and courses cover a variety of subject areas, including science, social studies, language arts, mathematics and physical education. And because the workshops are fashioned according to national frameworks, participants will receive professional development credit.

You don’t have to be a traditional educator to learn and teach through Project WILD. Scout leaders, 4-H coordinators, nature camp counselors and other volunteers are welcome to participate. More than 1 million people have been trained at Project WILD workshops throughout the nation.

Bring the WILD life to your students

Educators attending the free, 6-hour workshop receive two activity guides with more than 150 activities matching state and national standards for kindergarten through 12th-grade programs.

Project WILD activity guides are written by teachers, school administrators, wildlife professionals and other educators. Materials are reviewed by science, curriculum, education and environmental experts for accuracy and educational value. Each lesson plan is tested in real classrooms to ensure effectiveness and high-quality student involvement.

AR WILD School Site Program

Project WILD educates students about wildlife, habitats, and the environment. To move students from awareness to action, AGFC’s Project WILD program provides teachers in Arkansas’ public and private schools an opportunity to apply for grant funding to build wildlife habitat on school grounds.

Sample Activities

Objectives: Students will classify fish according to body shape and coloration.

Methods: Students design a fish adapted for various aquatic habitats.

Objectives: Students will: (1) identify and describe food, water and shelter as three essential components of habitat; (2) describe factors that influence carrying capacity; (3) define “limiting factors” and give examples; and (4) recognize that some fluctuations in wildlife populations are natural as ecological systems undergo constant change.

Methods: Students portray deer and habitat components in a physical activity.

  • What: Arkansas Black Bear Workshop (includes a comprehensive black bear curriculum guide)
  • Who: K-6 Educators (min. 10; max. 30)
  • Where: Location of your choice
  • When: Must be scheduled three months in advance
  • Fee: No charge
  • Contact: Program Staff to schedule

Sheila Connerly

AGFC Program Coordinator

Phone 479-518-2621
Email sheila.connerly@agfc.ar.gov

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Deer Harvest Reports and Strategic Management Plan

TOPIC
Deer Harvest Reports and Strategic Management Plan
CATEGORY
Deer
Hunters
Reports

2019 White-tailed Deer Strategic Management Plan

Read about the plan’s purpose and goals

By using sound wildlife management principles, current research, and public input the mission of this plan is to provide transparent, long-term management direction for white-tailed deer in Arkansas, which will ultimately result in responsible use, sustainability, and quality recreational opportunities of the white-tailed deer resource.

Past season harvest reports

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Annual Harvest Reports

TOPIC
Harvest and Scientific Reports
CATEGORY
Alligator
Bear
Deer
Elk
Furbearer
…

Deer | Turkey | Bear | Waterfowl | Elk | Alligator | Furbearer

2019-20 Annual Harvest Report
2018-19 Annual Harvest Report
2009-10 Annual Harvest Report
2008-09 Annual Harvest Report
2007-08 Annual Harvest Report

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]]> Deer Processing https://www.agfc.com/education/deer-processing/ Wed, 29 Mar 2023 20:13:29 +0000 https://agfc.wpengine.com/?page_id=161 The post Deer Processing appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

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Home  /  Education  /  Species  /  Deer

Deer Processing

TOPIC
Deer Education
CATEGORY
Deer
Hunters

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